Opening Reception Thursday 5 February, 6 – 8pm

Paul Bokslag, Sarah Browne, Gareth Kennedy, Sarah Lincoln, Fiona McDonald, Studio Weave

The Pattern Exchange is an exhibition, guest curated by Rosie Lynch and Hollie Kearns, which will present existing work from Irish artists Sarah Browne, Gareth Kennedy, Sarah Lincoln and Fiona McDonald, with new commissions by Paul Bokslag (IE/NL) and architecture practice Studio Weave (UK). Taking pattern as a point of departure, the exhibition will explore patterns of knowledge, material production, labour, and patterns of movement and change within urban and natural landscapes.

The exhibition planning began with a consideration of the historical context of the Temple Bar Gallery + Studios building as part of historic development along Dublin’s Liffey, as a one-time shirt making factory and as a building which is currently used for artistic production and presentation. This exhibition intends to open up aspects of artistic and design practice through an active programme of events developed by the selected artists. Traditionally peripheral aspects of making an exhibition; screenings, talks, design and gallery information have been brought to the forefront as part of the whole project to examine patterns of encountering artistic practice. It is seen that in this way, the presentation of existing works are public moments within ongoing bodies of research for each of the artists. As part of this, each artist will present a public event, screening, or talk during the run of the exhibition, as an extended aspect of the work on show, with events taking place on a weekly basis. (Details of the programme of public events below).

Paul Bokslag’s large-scale paper cut and a new font for The Pattern Exchange reveals an aesthetic of pattern responding to the architecture of Temple Bar Gallery + Studios and to the exhibition as a whole. Sarah Browne will present Hand to Mouth (2014). This series of woven images splice together historical images of women on the Shetland islands simultaneously knitting and carrying turf with contemporary stock photography of women digitally multitasking, exploring an unexpected historical precedent to current patterns of precarious labour, physical vulnerability and strain. Ikea Butter Churn for Gneeveguilla (2011) is an a iteration of the Folk Fictions series which artist Gareth Kennedy has worked on with communities across the west of Ireland, to create ‘fictional customs’, using local skill sets to produce locally specific objects with materials from the global market.

how we float (2014) is a work from Sarah Lincoln’s RAFT series, highlighting a moment of public presentation in Ardmore, Co. Waterford in August 2014 from Lincoln’s research into the decline of the fishing industry in this area, and the knowledge lost through the decline of land and sea based industries in the 20th and 21st century in Ireland. Fiona McDonald will present recent work from her ongoing research into the changing landscape of Dublin city through the introduction of the Great South Wall in the 18th century, and it’s current physical, political and conceptual location in the city.

Architecture practice Studio Weave have been invited to consider the notion of ‘threshold’ in the gallery space, through a new design commission. Using rope as a material reflecting Dublin’s marine heritage, Studio Weave will develop an infrastructure for display and furniture for use in the gallery space throughout this exhibition.

Public Events programme:

Tues 17 February, 5.30 – 7pm.

Curator talk: The Pattern Exchange: An Understanding of the City – talk by co-curator Rosie Lynch discussing the exhibition art works in relation to urban development and in particular Dublin city.

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Wed 25 February, 9 – 11pm.

Film screening: Nightcleaners, by Berwick Street Collective (1972-75). Late night film screening selected and introduced by artist Sarah Browne. Nightcleaners Part 1 was a documentary made by members of the Berwick Street Collective (Marc Karlin, Mary Kelly, James Scott and Humphry Trevelyan), about the campaign to unionize the women who cleaned office blocks at night and who were being victimized and underpaid.

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Wed 11 March, 5.30 – 7pm.

Discussion: Bog Burial, a discussion with artist Gareth Kennedy, and guest archaeologist detailing a field trip and performative action led by Gareth Kennedy at the Bog of Allen in March 2015. This event will explore critical anachronism and archaeological time within Kennedy’s practice with particular reference to Ikea Butter Churn for Gneeveguilla (2011).

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Sat, 21 March, 2 – 5pm.

Walking tour: A walk along the Great South Wall, led by artist Fiona McDonald, exploring it’s current physical, political and conceptual location in the city and the changing relationship to public accessibility in its history.

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Tues, 24 March, 6pm.

Performative Lecture: Artist Sarah Lincoln will present Other Slippages: a short presentation on erosion, in which she will respond to particular remnants along a stretch of Co. Waterford shoreline.

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Sat, 28 March, 5pm – 7.30pm.

Film screening & Curator Talk:Living in a Coded Land (2014) by filmmaker Pat Collins – film essay, which makes unexpected links between events and locations, history and contemporary life. Co-curator Hollie Kearns will give an introductory talk before the screening.

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